What Is Mexico's Independence Day and When Is It Celebrated?

Updated

Mexico's Independence Day is celebrated on September 16. It marks the start of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810, when the priest Miguel Hidalgo called on the people to rise against Spanish colonial rule. The event is commemorated each year with the El Grito ceremony on the night of September 15, followed by parades and festivities on September 16. It is not the same holiday as Cinco de Mayo, which falls on May 5 and commemorates a different event.

The Date and the Event Behind It

Mexico's Independence Day, known in Spanish as Día de la Independencia, is observed annually on September 16. According to Inside Mexico, the celebration is tied to a specific historical moment: the call to arms issued by Miguel Hidalgo, a priest who is remembered as the "Father of Mexico's Independence."

The article "Don Miguel Hidalgo: Father of Our Independence" describes how, late one September evening, Hidalgo set the independence movement in motion. That act is known as the Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores"), and it is the origin of the modern El Grito ceremony.

How It Is Celebrated

The main public observance happens in two parts:

  • The night of September 15 — El Grito. Inside Mexico describes it as "the Mexican Fiesta" that takes place every 16th of September, with the traditional shout of ¡Viva México! repeated three times.
  • September 16 — the official holiday itself, marked with parades and civic events.

The site's coverage of Mexican Independence Day notes that El Grito is the central ritual, and that the date is associated with a festive, patriotic atmosphere across the country.

September 16 vs. Cinco de Mayo

These two holidays are frequently confused, especially outside Mexico. Inside Mexico addresses the distinction directly in its "Cinco de Mayo Facts" article, which states plainly:

  1. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day.

The differences are worth keeping straight:

Mexican Independence Day Cinco de Mayo
Date September 16 May 5
Commemorates Start of the War of Independence (1810), Hidalgo's call to arms A later military victory; Inside Mexico covers it under its own holiday section
Key figure Miguel Hidalgo General Ignacio Zaragoza, described by Inside Mexico as the "Cinco de Mayo Hero"
Central ritual El Grito on the night of September 15 Varies; not the independence call

If you only remember one thing: September 16 is independence; May 5 is not.

Related Dates and Context

Inside Mexico also places the holiday in a broader calendar of Mexican and Mexican-American observances:

  • Hispanic Heritage Month — observed in the US from September 15 to October 15, which overlaps with Mexican Independence Day.
  • El Ángel de la Independencia — the Angel of Independence monument in Mexico City, covered by the site in both Spanish and English. Inside Mexico notes that despite the name, it is not actually an angel, though it appears to guard the city.

Where to Read More

Inside Mexico groups its independence-related material under categories including HISTORY, Holidays, HEROES & HEROINES, and September 16 Mexican Independence. Specific articles referenced here include:

  • "Don Miguel Hidalgo: Father of Our Independence"
  • "Mexican Independence Day 16 de Septiembre"
  • "Mexico's Independence: Key Questions and Answers"
  • "Cinco de Mayo Facts"
  • "General Ignacio Zaragoza: Cinco de Mayo Hero"

These are the pages to check if you want the historical background, the El Grito tradition, or clarification on how the September and May holidays differ.